Pumping apparatus for oil wells



Sept,I 23, 19m,

M1/uma bob A @bw/Mm! J. W. TAYLOR PUMPING APPARATUS FOR OlL WELLS- Flled July 9 1923 Patented sacara-1924'.

. and useful Improvements in Pumping paratus for Oil Wells, of which the follow- VuruTEDl STATES 1,569,323 PATENT oFFIcE.

JAMES W. TAYLOR,.OF SAN ANTONIO., TEXAS.

PUMPING- APPARATS FOR OIL WELLS.

Application led July 9,

4To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES W. TAYLOR, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Antonio, inthe county of Bexar and State of Texas, have invented certain rew ing is a` specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This invention relates to pumping apparatus for oil wells andmore particularly to devices of this character in which oil is forced from the well by the pressure of air or gas.

Specifically, the principal object of the invention is to provide an improved valve structure lfor use in oil well pumping apparatus of the type disclosed in the co-pending application of myself and Alexander J. Taylor,vfor improvements in pumping apparatus foroil wells, led June 6, 1923, Serial No. 643,652.' In this appli-cation we have disclosed `an lapparatus including valves whichupon vertical shifting of the fiow line successively open or close to establish communication at various points along the flow line between the flow line and the casing within which it is located. While the valve disclosed in this application is operative the cost of producing the sameis excessive and furthermore a tight joint, such as is necessary in this type of apparatus is diiiicultto maintain. Accordingly, an important object of this invention is the provision of, a valve of this character which may be very cheaply produced, which affords a tight seal at all times and which is generally an improvement upon the structure of the valve set -forth in such copending application.

A further object of the invention is to provide an attachment for the valve whereby the air admitted to the flow line by the valve is directed along the walls of the flow line in a thin stream, it having been found that this form of air admission is the most effective in elevating the iiuid within the flow line. i

-These and' other objects ljattain by the construction shown in the accompanying drawings, wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of my invention and wherein l Figure 1 is a partially diagrammatic view, parts being in section and parts in elevation, showing pumping apparatus includ- 1923. serial mi. 650,409.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the A valve in the closed position assumed when the valve is closed by elevation of the pipe line;

Figure 4 isa similar View showing the valve in the closed position assumed when the valve is closed by lowering of the flow line; and

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken through the valve on the line 5 5 of Figure 2.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral 10 indicates the casing 'of a well and 11 a flow line disposed within the casing. The fiow line 11 comprises a plurality of sections 12 connected `by control valves 13 for controlling the admission 'of air or gas contained within the casing to the flow line. The lowermost section 12 of the flow line is provided with a foot screen and valve structure, generally indicated at 15, and which may be of any desired construction but which is preferably of the same construction set forth in the co-pending application hereinbefore mentioned.

The iiow line is sealed to the casing, as generally indicated at 16, adjacent the upper end thereof, the seal permitting vertical movement of the flow linewithin the casing 10. Below the seal 16 a Huid pressure l'inlet 17 is provided through which pressure may be introduced to the casing to enter the flow line through the valves 13 hereinbefoe indicated. At the upper end of the casing means are provided, generally indicated at 18, .for lifting the-How line and the iiow line is provided, as at 19, with means adjustablylimiting the lowering thereof. The construction of the` lifting and limiting means hereinillustrated is generally shown as identical with that of the co-pending application lhereinbefore mentioned and will not accordingly be specifically described since any suitableapparatus vof this character may be provided.

The valves 13 each embody upper and lower sleeve members 20 and 21, each formed of hard steel. The sleeve 20 or upper sleeve is provided at its lower end with an enlargement 22 forming an inwardly directed shoulder 23 at the upper end thereof, this shoulder being disposed at an angle of ap'- proximately The upper end of the sleeve 20 is integrally screw-threaded, as indicated at A2st, for a purpose presently to appear. The lower end of the lower sleeve member 21 is externally screw-threaded for engagement with a coupling 25 by means of which it is connected with the fiow pipe section '12 therebelow. The upper end of the sleeve member is provided with an enlargement 26, the ends of which are rounded as indicated at 27, the lower rounded end confronting and coacting with the beveled shoulder 23 .formed by the enlargement 22.

The threaded upper end of the upper sleeve 20 engages with a hard steel coupling member 28, the lower face of which is beveled, as indicated at 29, oppositely to the bevel of the shoulder 2?) of the sleeve 20. The internal diameter of this coupling is the same as that of the casing sections 12 and the upper end of the coupling member has its bore enlarged and integrally screwthreaded, as at 29, for the reception ot' thel lower end of the casing section above the valve. `The internal diameter of the sleeve 2l is slightly less than' the internal diameter the upper end of the coupling member 26.

and projects into the lower end of the uppermost of the casing sections 12 which the valve connects.

In the-constructionof the device the internal diameter'of the sleeve 20 at the enlargement 22 is made slightly greater than the. external diameter of the sleeve 21 proper, and the internal diameter of the sleeve 20 proper is made slightly greater than the external diameter of the. sleeve 21 at the enlargement 26. The enlargement 26 'of the sleeve 21 is made of a length less than thel distance between the lower end 29 of the coupling member 28 and the shoulder 23 of the sleeve 20. Similarly,`the`extension nozzle 31 has an external diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the coupling mem-` 'ber 28 and accordingly of the ow pipe sections 12 with which it is associated. In the operation-fit the device it will-sbc obvious that by `leifation of the flow linethe valves will be successively openedv and closed and by lowering .of the flow lineA they will be successively opened and closed. Assuming the flow line to be in its lowermost position` each valve 13 has the upper end of the enthus permitting fluid pressure to pass bel tween the enlargel'nent 22 of the sleeve and the sleeve 21. between the curved face 2T at the lower end of the enlargement 26 andthe inclined shoulder 23. between the face of this enlargement and the adjacent face of the sleeve 20, and between the curved upper end 27 of the enlargement 26 and the lower end 29 of the coupling 28, and between the outer wall of the extension nozzle 3l and the inner face of the coupling member and the flow pipe section l2. Thus a thin stream of air under pressure may be admitted to the flow line and directed along the walls lthere.- of. As the upward movement of the flow line continues the shoulder 23 will come into engagement with the curved lower face.y y,of the enlargement 26, with the result that thefpassageway above described is sealedjatfthis point and eonnnunication,cut off. 'Aftfthe same time opening of the valve 13 next'` lbelow is started and'this process is repeated-at` this valve and at leach succeeding valve as the elevation continues. In lowering of the flow line the operation of the valves is reversed, the lowermost valve first opening and then closing and this process being continued through the series of valves. It will. of course. be obvious that by providing a suitable indicating means. .such as disclosed at I. it may be readily determined which of the valves is open and the opening of the valves thus made positive. I do not. claim the use of this indicating means as set forth and claimed in the co-pending application of myself and Alexander J. Taylor,

e above specified.

It has been found in practice that the use of soft metal for forming seats 1n valves of this character is impossible for the weight.

to be supported is tremendous and a seat.

which is formed of soft metal soon becomes deformed and useless. By the use of hard steel sections and the round shoulders upon the enlargements 26 coaeting with the beveled faces 23 and 29,/it has been found that ja perfect seat can be formed and that this seat increases in efliciency in use. It. will, of course. be obvious that certain change and modification in the structure can be resorted to without in any manner departing from thel spirit. of my invention and I accordingly do not limit myself to such specific structure as hereinbefore setforth except as hereinafter claimed.

I elaimzl. A flow line for wells comprising a, plurality vof longitudinally movable sections and valves connecting adjacent ends of the sections, each valve including an upper sleeve .provided at its lower end with an upwardly directed shoulder, the lower 'sleeve provided at its upper end with an enlargement operating wlthin the upper sleeve, `and a coupling member engaging the up er end of the upper sleeve andhavin its ower end confronting -the shoulder thereof, said coupling member and lower sleeve member being adapted for connection with adjacent ends of casing sections, said enlargement having the opposite ends thereof rounded for engagement with confronting shouldersof the coupling member and upper sleeve member. l2. A flow line for wells comprising a plurality of longitudinally movable sections and valves connecting adjacent ends ofthe sections, each valve including an upper sleeve provided at its lower end with an upwardly directed shoulder, the lower sleeve provided at its upperend with an enlargement operating within the upper sleeve, and a coupling member engaging the upper end of the L 'upper sleeve and having its lower end con'- fronting the shoulder thereof, said coupling member and lower sleeve member being adapted for connection with adjacent ends of casing sections, said enlargement havingv the opposite ends thereof 4rounded for en-l gagement -.with confronting shoulders of the coupling member and upper sleeve member, said lower sleeve member being provided with 'an extension at its up er end directed through the coupling mem er and of less diameter than the internal diameter of the ccuplin member.

3. A ow line for wells comprising a pluralityl of longitudinally movable sectlons and valves connecting adjacent ends of the sections, each valve including an upper sleeve provided at its lower end with an upwardly directed shoulder', the lower sleeve provided at its yupper end with an enlargement operating within the upper sleeve, and a coupling member enga 'ng the upper end of the uppersleeve argll having its lower end rconfronting the shoulder thereof, said coug coupling member and upper sleeve member,

said confronting shoulders being oppositely beveled and spaced apart a distance greater than the length of the enlargement of the lower sleeve.

4'. A :How line for wells comprising a plurality of llongitudinally movable sections and valves connecting adjacent ends of the sections, each valve including an upper structure and a lower structure, each of said lower andupper structures being adapted for engagement with an end ofa casing section, one of said structures having an enlargement provided with rounded end tions, the other of said structures aor in opposed oppositely beveled shoulders space a art a distance greater than the length of t e enlargement of the other structure and betweenv which said structure operates.

5. A flow line for wells comprising a plu- I rality of longitudinally movable sections and valves connecting ad'acent ends `of the sections, each valve inc uding an upper structure and a lower structure, each of said lower and upper structures being Iadapted for engagement with an end of a caslng section, one of said structures having an enlargement provided with rounded end (portions, the other of sald structures aior 1n opposed oppositely beveled shoulders space apart adistance greater than the length of theenlargement of the other structureand between which said structure operates, the lower structure of each valve including an upwardly extending nozzle' directed thriglh and of less diameter thanythe portion o upper structure which it o poses.

In'testimony whereof I ereunto afiix my signature.

JAMES w. TAYLOR. 

